Brick veneer support structure



May 30, 1967 M. PASCUCCI BRICK VENEER SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR Michaefi Pcmcumi ATTORNEY invention, and together United States Patent 3,321,ss3 BRICK VENEER SUPPORT STRUCTURE Michael Pascucci, Bruce Lane, Manhasset, NY. 11030 Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,548 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-502) This invention relates generally to the brick veneer art and more particularly to a new and improved means of applying and attaching brick to veneer or face a wall surface.

In consonance with the trend toward do-it-yourself technologies, the primary object of the instant invention resides in the provision of novel bracket means which may be conveniently and expediently secured to a wall surface and which will, subsequent to securement, provide a lath upon which individual bricks may be attached to the end of forming a veneered surface, the effectuation of the foregoing installation procedure being well within the purview of the ordinary person unskilled in the art, as e.g., the housewife.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a brick veneer support structure which will assure the installation of an accurately arranged veneer lattice, the necessity of precision and time-consuming foundation preparation being, however, obviated.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an assembled veneer wall structure having inherent insulating properties by dint of the brick spacing embodiment utilized therein.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a support bracket for veneer brick which is particularly adapted to securely retain individual bricks while still permitting ready removal thereof should such become required.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a support bracket for veneer brick, said bracket being resilient to thus afford united movement of all bricks attached thereto in the event of strains or stresses applied to any section of said bracket.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a brick veneer support bracket combination wherein mortar is applied between the bricks but is not required behind the bracket inasmuch as the bracket itself, rather than the mortar, retains the brick in the veneer lattice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support bracket of the foregoing character which includes a resilient platform portion having means for frictionally engaging the vuggy regions of the veneer brick to afford improved retention thereof.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, easily and quickly installed and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant brick veneer support structure will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claim.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a partially assembled veneer wall structure according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the support bracket, the projections extending upwardly of the platform portion of the resilient members being illustrated therein;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of a partially assembled veneer wall structure;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 5 show the partially assembled veneer lattice and supporting structure therefor designated generally by numeral 1.

With particular reference to FIGURE 2, the support bracket used for supporting bricks to form an assembled veneer wall structure is designated generally by numeral 2 and will be observed to be comprised of elongate member 4 having rolled flanges 6, 6 extending the length of the respective longitudinal sides thereof, a plurality of spaced resilient members 8 projecting laterally of the exterior surface of said elongate member, a plurality of spacer members 10 projecting normally of said exterior surface and a plurality of nail receiving or fastener means receiving openings 12 provided through said elongate member.

Support bracket 2 is preferably formed of sheet metal and may be stamped or otherwise fabricated therefrom. Accordingly, the resiliency of members 8, it will be appreciated, is due to the resilient property of the material of construction, additional bias means being not required. Accordingly, plastics or other suitable resilient materials in lieu of sheet metal may be used.

Resilient members 8, as shown in the drawings, are each formed out of the rectangular opening 14 cut from said elongate member whereby edges 16, 18 and 20 of said resilient member correspond to sides 22, 24 and 26 of said rectangular opening and edge 28 of the resilient member is common and integral with side 30 of said rectangular opening. As illustrated, each resilient member 8 is formed of a substantially flat platform portion 32 extending normally of said elongate member and a downwardly and inwardly bent clip portion 34 provided at the free end of said resilient member. As shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, said platform portion includes a plurality of spaced relatively small projections 36 extending upwardly of the surface thereof, said projections being adapted for reception within the vuggy regions of porous brick or irregular surface of non-porous brick to thus afford improved frictional engagement therewith and more positive retention of the positioned brick.

Spacer members 10 are in the manner aforedescribed with respect to said resilient members, struck out of the material forming the elongate member, the edges of said spacer members being in correspondence with the sides of the rectangular openings 38 remaining after the spacer members are formed. it will, however, be appreciated that the spacer members may be of any suitable configuration, as long as the primary functions. thereof are retained; i.e., to hold the bricks at) in spaced relation with respect to the exterior surface of elongate member 4, and to assist in the alignment and uniform positioning of said brick by dint of the reception of said spacer members within shoulders 42 of the brick when the brick is positioned between the resilient members. In the event veneer brick not provided with shoulders be utilized, the spacing function of said spacer members which effects an air void within space 44 will still be realized.

In the practice of the instant invention to form an assembled veneer wall structure as partially shown in the drawings, a plurality of vertically oriented and spaced support brackets 2 are fastened to a wall surface 46 by nails 48 extending through openings 12 provided through said elongate member. Other suitable fastening arrangements may be utilized and are contemplated Within the scope of this invention.

The veneer bricks iii herein illustrated, are as aforestated provided with shoulder 42 disposed longitudinally of the reverse surface 50 thereof, said shoulders being adjacent the top and bottom walls 52 and 54, respectively, of each said brick. The bricks are inserted between the platform and clip portions of respective resilient members and are each arranged to straddle at least two sup port brackets as shown in the drawings. Inasmuch as the platform and clip portions of each support bracket are identically spaced and the positions thereof on respective support brackets is also identical, alignment of the rows of brick thus positioned is assured, provided of course, that the lower end 56 of each support bracket is arranged to contact floor 58 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 of the drawings. In accordance with the foregoing procedure, columns of bricks are arranged in spaced relation, the bottom wall 54 of an upper brick being opposite the top wall 52 of a lower brick, individual platform portions 32 acting to support the bottom wall of each brick and individual clip portions 34 acting to retainingly engage the top wall of each brick.

To complete the aesthetic appearance of the assembled veneer wall structure, mortar 60 is applied intermediate said bricks as shown, the retaining and supporting effect of said platform and clip portions, being, however, sufiicient to maintain the assembled structure in desired position.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that a veneer wall construction is provided wherein the bricks are in dividually secured in superposed relation with respect to the surface being covered, and whereby a proportionate part of the load is assumed by respective pairs of platform and clip portions. Hence, the tendency of the completed wall to crack is materially reduced, since the lower units are not overloaded.

Although the preferred embodiment of the brick veneer support structure has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A support bracket in combination with veneer bricks to form an assembled veneer wall structure, said bricks having shoulders disposed longitudinally on at least one surface thereof, said shoulders being adjacent the top and bottom wall of said bricks, said support bracket comprising an elongate member having a pair of resilient members, each resilient member projecting laterally of said elongate member and including substantially flat platform means on one side and clip means on the other side thereof, the platform and clip means of said pair of resilient members being opposingly disposed whereby a brick is receivable and partially supported between said platform and clip means of said pair of said resilient members, said elongate member including a plurality of spacer members projecting outwardly of said elongate member, said spacer members being engaged with said shoulders when the brick is positioned between said resilient members to thereby further support the brick.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,003,996 6/1953 Finzer et al 52-482 2,044,216 6/1936 Klages 52--502 2,087,931 7/1937 Wallace et al. 52-387 2,101,612 12/1937 Duffy 52-386 2,103,569 12/1937 Wallace et a1. 52-502 2,216,319 10/1940 McGee 52--482 2,300,258 10/1942 Kublanow 52-502 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

I. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner. 

